The Norfolk County Council (Ontario, Canada) approved a 197-foot tall telecom tower proposed by Fontur International on behalf of Bell Mobility. The Courier Press reported that the tower would support current and future needs, improve existing coverage in the Port Rowan area, and provide 911 service.
Not all county staff were on board with supporting the tower project, however. Staff told counselors that Fontur International applied for another tower (230 feet) in Port Rowan on behalf of Signum Wireless, just over 1.1 miles away from the Bell Mobility tower location. The staff shared concerns regarding the waterfront close to the proposed 196-foot tower and how it impacted views and along the nearby trail route.
According to the owner of the proposed tower site, Marshall Collins, improved communications are necessary. He owns Collins Harbour, purchased in 2020. “It was early on in our operations that we identified that communication was an issue in our area,” Collins said. “Cellular services were almost non-existent, and so we started to work right away with Bell Mobility to have a temporary tower brought in to service the immediate area.”
He added that improved services are critical to “aid our boaters, vacation stayers, and tourists in our area, especially in the summer season.” Collins said he signed a long-term lease with Bell Mobility to put a permanent telecommunications tower on the property.
The Courier Press reported there were also letters of support from the community sent to the council. Since Industry Canada regulates tower locations, council members voted to send both a letter of support to the agency and a letter in opposition to the proposed site from residents.
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